This document discusses key aspects of research ethics including adhering to a code of ethics, obtaining proper permissions, maintaining responsibility and confidentiality, providing feedback to participants, and considering participatory research approaches. It outlines five general ethical principles and discusses issues like competence, integrity, respecting participants' rights and dignity, social responsibility, seeking informed consent, avoiding conflicts of interest or plagiarism, and maintaining professional standards. The document provides guidance on getting permissions, responsibilities of researchers, and ways to provide feedback to communities.

1. Research Ethics
•A code of ethics
•The range of permission needed to do
research
•Researchers’ responsibility
•Confidentiality of information given
•Feedback to participants and
•Participatory research

2. Code of ethics
• Ethics are standards of professional behaviour
• They guide us so that we act with integrity,
especially towards participants of research.
• They view technical competence as ethical
obligation
• Helps us ensure that we are regarded as
credible
• Code of ethics sets out principles of behaviour
that professionals should apply to their work

3. Five general ethical principles
• Professional competence
• Integrity
• Professional and scientific responsibility
• Respect for people’s rights, dignity and diversity
• Social responsibility
American Sociological Association (1999)

4. Professional standards
• Adherence to the highest possible technical standards
• Ensuring that you are competent in your research
• Correct representation of your own expertise
• No discrimination, exploitation and harassment
• Avoidance of conflict of interest or their appearance
• Protection of confidentiality
• Seeking informed consent
• Avoidance of plagiarism

5. Permission to research
• Tell participants the purpose of research
• Tell them what you will do with research
• Answer their questions about the research
• Ask permission to continue
• Respect their rights to refuse to participate
• Respect their rights to withdraw at any stage

6. Responsibility
• Do not get emotionally involved
• Do not break law
• Never invent information ( filling
questionnaire without interviewing)
• Do not misrepresent yourself or your role

7. Feedback
• Put summaries of findings before community, give to
leaders for discussion in their own meetings
• Arrange public meetings through community leaders
to talk of findings, answer questions and participate
in discussions
• Deliver summaries to house at sample sites
• Arrange interviews on local radio
• Write articles for newspapers columns
• Call meetings with interest groups and agencies to
present reports
• Hold workshops with key agency staff